§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by constituency the cost and number of departmental staff employed in scientific and technological assistance in 1979 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. ButcherThe number and cost of staff in the Department's industrial research establishments were and are as set out in the table. It is not practicable to identify other staff engaged in administering scientific and technological assistance since they are also engaged on other work.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Department held discussions with the Post Office prior to the corporation's announcement in February this year of proposals for contraction of the urban counters network. These discussions enabled the Department to satisfy itself that the proposals were consistent with the Government's commitment to the maintenance of an adequate post office network and with the Post Office's duties to provide an adequate service to the community and to operate in an efficient and cost-effective way. Questions about individual closures were not discussed. They are operational matters for the Post Office.